DNP3 WITS Driver Guide - Download Configuration (WITS Outstation) (WITS-Specific Actions and Methods)

Download Configuration (WITS Outstation)

Associated with: WITS Outstations.

Security permission required to access this pick action: Configure.

WARNING

UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR OF APPLICATION

Downloading configuration from Geo SCADA Expert to a WITS Field Device can cause the Field Device to reset (a reset occurs if the bulk configuration file is downloaded). The Device Profile defines whether a Field Device will perform a DNP3 cold reset or only a warm reset. For this reason, always ensure that it is safe to allow the outstation to reset before issuing an All Configuration or Changed Configuration Only download.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

NOTICE

INOPERABLE DEVICE

Always verify that the outstation’s communications settings are configured correctly in Geo SCADA Expert before triggering a Download Configuration action. Should the configuration conflict with the actual setup at the outstation, normal communications between Geo SCADA Expert and the outstation may cease. For example, communications could be lost if there is a mismatch between the downloaded port configuration and the actual ports that the outstation is using.

Only attempt to download configuration when there is sufficient time to recover the situation (should a configuration mismatch occur).

Failure to follow these instructions can result in inoperable equipment.

If your Field Device supports configuration download, you can use the Download Configuration action to download a Field Device's configuration from Geo SCADA Expert. You can find out if your Field Device supports configuration download by looking at its Device Profile (see WITS Device Profiles).

Being able to download the configuration from Geo SCADA Expert means that you can configure your Field Device remotely (using Geo SCADA Expert and/or a vendor supplied configuration tool). For more information, see WITS Configuration Strategies.

When you select Download Configuration, a Download Configuration window is displayed. It prompts you to select the type of configuration download that Geo SCADA Expert is to perform.

Download Configuration - WITS Outstation

Choose from:

All Configuration—Geo SCADA Expert downloads the complete configuration, including the bulk configuration file, an incremental configuration file, and any application programs. Be aware that an incremental file is only downloaded if you have made changes to the incremental configuration in Geo SCADA Expert. If you choose All Configuration, the configuration that is downloaded overwrites any configuration that is already in the Field Device. Geo SCADA Expert does not compare the versions of the bulk configuration files or application program files.

Typically, you would only choose All Configuration if a mistake has been made with the versions of the bulk configuration file or application program files. For example, if a bulk configuration has been modified without changing the version of the file. Using All Configuration allows you to force a download so that both Geo SCADA Expert and the Field Device have the same configuration. All Configuration is also useful if you have accepted local incremental configuration changes, but then decide that you want to discard them (by downloading configuration that will overwrite them).
Changed Configuration Only—Geo SCADA Expert compares the version of the bulk configuration file in the Geo SCADA Expert database to the version of the bulk configuration file in the Field Device. If they are different, or the Field Device does not have a bulk configuration file, Geo SCADA Expert will download the bulk configuration file. Geo SCADA Expert also downloads an incremental configuration file (containing only those changes that have been made since the previous configuration download, upload or import). This may result in the Field Device restarting, depending on the configuration changes that are downloaded.

Changed Configuration Only is typically the most efficient way of downloading configuration, and so is the option to choose if the file versions are correct.

If you are using Download Configuration to overwrite local configuration changes, the bulk configuration file will only be downloaded if the version numbers of the bulk configuration do not match. If they do match, the entire incremental configuration file is downloaded, as this is the only way to ensure all local changes are replaced. However, if you have already accepted the local changes, (see Accept Local Configuration), you will need to use the All Configuration option.

With PSTN and ‘On Demand’ outstations, the Download Configuration window may also have a Queue check box.

Clear the check box if you want Geo SCADA Expert to perform the download immediately
Select the check box if you want the download to be queued (it will take place when Geo SCADA Expert is next in communications with the Field Device).

For details on the Queue setting, which (see Queue Check Box).

When downloading configuration, any new Application Programs created in the Geo SCADA Expert database will also be created in the Field Device. Any Applications Programs that have been deleted from the Geo SCADA Expert database, or taken out of service, will be deleted from the Field Device. Any existing Application Programs in the Geo SCADA Expert database are updated in the Field Device with the new program file (if the version of the program file is different or if you select the All Configuration option).